Everybody’s Somebody in Luckenbach
Get back to the basics in this legendary Texas town. Luckenbach Texas is world-famous for its rich musical heritage, laid back atmosphere, cold beer, and daily guitar pickers under the shade of the huge oak trees. A small town with a population of three, it’s more of a concert venue now and less of an actual town. Luckenbach has a big reputation and plenty to draw visitors. Luckenbach is located in the Texas Hill Country, about 15 miles from Fredericksburg and 50 miles from Austin.
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys…
—Luckenbach, Texas / Back to the Basics of Love – by Waylon Jennings
Waylon wrote this in 1977, at the height of ‘outlaw’ country (music). The song, which deals with leaving the high-pressure life to focus on love in little Luckenbach, hit the #1 spot on Billboard’s Country chart.
Little Luckenbach describes the hill country hamlet perfectly. It’s all of four or five buildings – depending on if you count the shed! It was founded by a German immigrant family, the Luckenbachs, who had come north from Fredericksburg. Visit a tiny tourist trap and bastion of lefty hijinks in the beautiful Texas hill country.
The general store and saloon date back to the 1840s. Later, a community trading post was established, and the family signed a peace treaty with the area’s Comanche tribe. The little post never broke that treaty – a rarity indeed.
In the 1960s Luckenbach was a ghost town, with a population of three. ’Hondo’ Crouch bought the entire village and ran it as he saw fit. He was a rancher, poet, musician, comedian, and jack-of-all-trades. He organized all-female Chili Cook-offs and music festivals. He also urged the Lost Gonzo Band to record a live album in Luckenbach: Viva Terlingua was one of the first, and best, outlaw country albums. A stampede of musicians followed, including Waylon, Willie, Pat Green, and Lyle Lovett.
Nowadays, the Shiner Bock music fest draws in hundreds of visitors and Hondo has become a legend.
Things To Do Near Luckenbach
- Amish Market – Hand-crafted wood furniture, jams, butter, and cheese from the old country.
- Der Stall Bed and Breakfast Barn
- Enchanted Rock State Park – Beautiful park, scenic hiking, picnic areas.
- European Day Spa of Fredericksburg – Offers Day Spa Services such as Swedish Massages, Deep Tissue Massages, Massages, Trigger Point Therapy, and much more.
- Fredericksburg Concierge Service – The only concierge service in Fredericksburg, Texas giving one-stop shopping for all your lodging, guided tour, Rockbox tickets, theater tickets, dining, and day spa massages. One call does it all.
- Fredericksburg Herb Farm – We have a wonderful restaurant serving delicious comfort foods, a day spa offering relaxing treatments, a Poet’s House, providing a large selection of personal and body care products, herbs, and native perennials.
- National Museum of the Pacific War (Admiral Nimitz Museum) – Home of the George H. W. Bush gallery. Daily tours.
- Pioneer Museum – Immerse yourself in the life of Fredericksburg through an exploration of historic structures, authentic objects, photographs, and much more!
- Rockbox Theater – The only professionally cast live music rock n roll show in the Texas Hill country. Featuring the golden era of rock-n-roll, comedy and family-friendly entertainment! Voted the #1 attraction in Texas (Trip Advisor)!
- Wildseed Farms – Open seven days a week, Wildseed Farms is the world’s largest working wildflower farm with over 200 acres of wildflowers in various stages of development. Visit the market center gift shop, live butterfly exhibit, and Brewbonnet Biergarten.